What a fight night weekend it was for Netflix with Terence Crawford vs. Canelo Alvarez. In an era in which boxing has been at the mercy of exhibition fights between novices and fighters who are over the hill, Netflix put on a generational bout. There is a gravitas that the “sweet science” still possesses when the right talent is involved. We saw that on full display on Saturday night.
Taking care of business
There’s a reason why Dana White now wants to promote boxing. The people still clamor for it if the best fights the best. For a long time, Mayweather Promotions touted Floyd Mayweather’s undefeated streak. They used it as a marketing ploy, and people tuned in to see if anyone would beat him. It’s akin to The Undertaker and his Wrestlemania streak. There was always intrigue in seeing who would overcome such a thing. With Mayweather’s approach, they didn’t always fight the big-money fight at the perfect time. I won’t totally say it was their fault either, but during that time, promotions just weren’t collaborating as simply.
As a result of that, we got Mayweather versus Manny Pacquiao maybe five years too late. But that isn’t the case with Crawford versus Alvarez. We finally got to experience the perfect storm of veteran boxers still in their prime facing off. Now, of course, Alvarez is the household name in all of this. But Crawford was putting up his own professional undefeated record against the Super Middleweight Champion of the world.
Don’t fall for the okie doke
With Mayweather and Mike Tyson planning to square off in an exhibition next year, it looks like promoters are willing to go to the well once again. In my opinion, it would be too many times by then. The true longevity in prize fighting, to me, is with this example. The people want to see competitive fights. As much as Crawford dominated much of last Saturday’s context, Alvarez still wasn’t anything to snooze at.
This was a 12-round bout that went the distance and didn’t disappoint. A champion lost his titles by unanimous decision, which doesn’t happen every day! These elements make the fights exciting. Boxing has to continue showcasing its up-and-coming stars. That helps keep the business of the sport healthy. Once promoters continue to see the revenue generated by putting on the best fights, I can assure you all that red tape will become a thing of the past.
The future is bright
I really can’t tell you the last time I watched a fight that was as satisfying to watch as Crawford and Alvarez. That shouldn’t be the case, but I think that this moment provided the impetus to change that. Now, who is to say that the masses won’t watch Mayweather and Tyson? I just think that people shouldn’t. There are no stakes, and it’s the most egregious money grab in recent history. Remember, you fool me, you can’t get fooled again! Let’s continue to highlight the greatness of today’s fighters. Clearly, the game is in good hands.